Chilly October days are filled with warm sunshine and dancing leaves. This is the perfect time of year to grab your picnic basket and experience the color and life of Mother Nature across the country. What better way to spend time with your family, your kids, your sweetheart and your friends than having a great adventure outside? Here are some fun fall ideas to inspire creative adventures with those in your life, with a bonus recipe for roasting pumpkin seeds, and a list of essential pumpkin carving tools for your enjoyment!

Picnic Breakfast

Bundle up with your picnic basket and rise early for a mystical picnic breakfast at dawn. See the stirrings of the day firsthand, with a thermos of coffee in one hand and a warm croissant in the other. Watch the sun rays warm the frost bitten ground while staying bundled up in cozy picnic blankets. Quietly enjoy experiencing the start to a beautiful fall day with someone you love and the rest of your day will be filled with joy and peace. Excellent ideas for lovebirds, young and old.

Picnic Baskets for Nature Walks

Families who enjoy parks and road trips will thoroughly enjoy a day together observing the fall leaves and excitement local nature offers with picnic backpacks. Go for a hike at your local State or National Parks and enjoy the perfect cool weather while it lasts! Collecting brightly colored leaves, throwing a football around and flying kites are favorite activities for children and adults. Fresh air will rejuvenate your senses and leave you feeling refreshed. Take along portable folding chairs and remember that tailgating season is in full swing, so find team logo’d chairs available in extra-large sizes and in a variety of unique and colorful team designs!

Arts & Crafts

Pack the picnic basket and find local small businesses that offer corn mazes, pumpkin patches, arts and crafts and other activities for families. These are great ways to bond and share unforgettable experiences with your kids and loved ones. Make a day of seeing the sights and activities offered around your neighborhood and town. You may be surprised with the abundance of activities offered in your local newspaper and community center.

Pumpkin Carving

Of course this is a staple enjoyment for couples, families and kids everywhere in October! Find a nice, round pumpkin and wash the outside before drawing, painting, or carving it. You’ll need a nail or box cutter to trace out your favorite printable pumpkin designs.! When you’re ready to carve your masterpiece, remember to set down newspapers and arm the kids with spoons. Once you’ve cut the main hole and are ready to scoop out the insides, remember to save the pumpkin seeds so you can roast them later for a delicious treat!

Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown; stir occasionally.

Tools for Pumpkin Carving

Scrapers – help clean out the insides of a pumpkin

Linoleum Cutter – carves details and patterns with great accuracy

Hole Cutters – create holes of varying sizes

Miniature Saws – carves irregular shapes with great accuracy

Wood Gouges – creates strips that will glow when you add a light source

Keyhole Saw – flexible blade that allows for curved cuts

Cookie Cutters – use a rubber mallet to create unique designs

Power Drill – creates small holes easily

Melon Baller – carves spherical chunks that will glow when you add a light source

Whatever you enjoy doing during the fall is often short-lived before the wintry weather blows in, so get out there and enjoy some quality time with your friends and family. Laughing and enjoying the company of loved ones is an experience that warms our very souls and this is the perfect time of year for great adventures!